In Meditation: Ep. 6 - Self Love

Olivia Allen  0:00 

Welcome to the Living Well podcast by the Well Being Collective at Hart House. The living world podcast is a space to support and examine what it means to live and be well, for Indigenous, Black and Racialized folx through dialogue, meditation and reflection.

Olivia Allen  0:17 

These episodes are recorded on Indigenous land. Tkaronto, "where the trees stand in the water"-- land that has belonged to the Haudenosaunee, the Huron-Wendat, and the Chippewa, and today is a part of the Treaty Lands and Territory of the Mississaugas of the credit. I encourage all of us to reflect on why we acknowledge the land and the importance of living and acting in solidarity with Indigenous peoples globally. Join us for our guided meditation series In Meditation, where you will be led by various facilitators, as you sink into a practice that will help you to re-centre connect to your breath, and shift awareness to the present.

Br. Kofi  1:02 

Welcome to our self love meditation. Let's speak about affirmations for a moment. Affirmation statements help us to rewire the way we think about ourselves, and life in general. As repeat affirmative statements, we become more and more confident in ourselves and our very potential. Affirmations also help us to be kinder to ourselves. Every second of every day, we experience inner thoughts and random self talk. Some are positive, others are not. The more we consciously affirm positive thoughts, the more opportunities we have to promote positive self talk. As we begin our meditation, I will ask you to relax onto the floor if you're seated on the floor, or to relax into your chair, easing your feet into the floor, or your body into the floor. We're going to be breathing in through the nose and out through the nose. I'm going to walk you through the breathing. With your eyes closed. I'm going to ask you just to relax. into your seated posture. If you're sitting in a chair, your hands will be on your knees. Arms on your thighs. Back as erect but relaxed.

Br. Kofi  2:36 

Taking a deep breath in through the nose two, three and out through the nose two, three you'll be hearing some water sounds behind me in two, three, o ut two, three. In deep as you can, two, three, out two, three, in two, three, out to three. In relaxing the shoulders and back two, three.  Out two, three, in two, three, out, two, three. In as the thoughts come let them come in, let them go.

Br. Kofi  3:43 

Two, three, out two, three, in two, three, out two, three in two, three, out two, three, in two, three. Out two, three. In taking yourself into a peaceful place. Two, three, out two, three in a place that brings you calm. Two, three out a place that brings you peace two, three could be a place you've been before in or place you make up your mind. Two, three out two, three in two, three. Out two, three in two, seeing yourself enter your peaceful place. Out two, three, something leads you into your peaceful place in, two, break up a door could be a staircase out two, three, it could be a waterfall. In two, three, out two, three in finding a place to sit two, three inner peaceful place. Out two, three just like you're seated now in two, three out two, three.

Br. Kofi  5:49 

In two, three out two, three in two, three out two, three in connecting in your peaceful place two, three out two, three in feeling the temperature two, three in your peaceful place out two, three in two, three out two, three in. Is it warm or is it cool two, three out two, three in do you feel a breeze or is it still two, three out two, three. Are there any other sounds in your peaceful place in two, three or is it quiet out two, three connecting for that moment in two, three, out two, three in. 

Br. Kofi  7:16 

Setting an intention to three or being present in this moment. Out two, three in two, three present in your peaceful space out two, three, in two, three, out two, three in two, three, out two, three.  Feeling your feet ease into the floor in two, three, out two, three in two, three, out two, three in as deep as you can two, three, out two, three in two, three out two, three. In doing a scan of the body two, three from the top of your head out two, all the way down to your feet two, three listening into the body in two, three for any sensitivity out any discomfort two, three in two, three out two, three in. two, three out two, three in two, three. Out two, three in two, three out releasing any discomfort two, three in two, three out two, three letting it release from your body in two, three out two, three in two, three out two, three in two three, out two, three out two, three, in, two, three out two, three.

Br. Kofi  7:43 

In releasing any thoughts two, three, out two,three any thoughts that do not serve you in releasing them now two, three, out two, three, in two, three, out two, three in two, three, out two, three in the same way that water two, three washes things away out two, three envisioning this water washing away those aspects in that no longer serve you two, three in your release them they're no longer with you out

Br. Kofi  10:26 

two, three in we've released any discomfort two, three, out two, three acknowledging a peace and calm in the body.

Br. Kofi  11:36 

In two, three, out two, three we're going to begin our affirmations in two, three repeating mentally out two, three in I'm whole just as I am two, three out I am whole just as I am. Two, three in I give myself unconditional love two, three out I give myself unconditional love. Two, three in two, three out two, three in, I feel great about who I am two, three out I feel great about who I am. Three in two, three, out two,three in I believe in myself. Two, three and my power out two, three in I believe in myself in my power two, three out two, three in others love me for who I am two, three out others love me for two, three in two, three, out two, three. In I view myself through kind eyes three out. Two, three I view myself through kind eyes in two, three, out two, three. In a treat myself with respect and honor. Three, out. I treat myself with respect and honor. Three in two, three out two, three in I feel comfortable speaking my mind. Two, three out I feel comfortable speaking my mind. Two, three in, two, three, out two, three in two, three, out two, three in I love who I am inside and out. Three out. I love who I am inside and out.

Br. Kofi  14:55 

Going back to our regular form of breathing thanking yourself for creating this space connecting again in your peaceful place. Feeling that light and that love surrounding you. Seeing yourself standing up slowly walking out of your peaceful place the same way that you came in.

Br. Kofi  15:42 

Slowly coming back to the present, wiggling your fingers, wiggling your toes acknowledging that you're back in your space. Welcome back. Taking a moment, slowly opening your eyes. Breathing in two, three out two, three if you have a moment, and a pen and a pad. Just document some of your experiences today and what came up for you during the meditation. This way you can look back at it later. Hope, you enjoyed today's meditation. Have an amazing day. Continue to walk in self love

Olivia Allen  16:52 

Thank you for joining us in this practice today. We would love to hear from you. You can find us on Instagram at Hart House Fitness Centre. You can find the Living Well podcast anywhere podcasts are available. today's podcast was produced by Shaela with the music composed by Bill. See you next time.